Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction: Moneyline, Props & SGP (Dec 18)
Calendar icon Published 17 Dec 20:15

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction: Moneyline, Props & SGP (Dec 18)

Juan Pablo Aravena Juan Pablo Aravena
Moneyline PickMontreal Canadiens
Player PropLane Hutson over 0.5 assists
Same Game ParlayOver 4.5 total goals + Lane Hutson over 0.5 points + Tyler Bertuzzi over 0.5 points
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Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Main Match Info

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Moneyline Prediction

The Canadiens are coming off a loss to the Flyers the last time out, and that continued their inconsistent ways since they’ve gone W2, L2, OT1 over their previous five contests. 

The fact that Montreal has secured four wins over their last eight contests (W4, L3, OT1) suggests the team can compete regularly, although the underlying stats paint a clearer picture of what they bring to the table.

Simply put, the Canadiens are going to rely on their offense to get good results, because their defence is simply not good enough. Montreal ranks 12th in the league in goals scored per game (3.15) and have the fourth-best power-play unit with 26.1 percent of effectiveness. 

On the contrary, the Blackhawks rank fourth in the league in penalty killing (83.9 percent) but only 25th in goals scored (2.82).

Chicago’s scoring woes are amplified by the absence of Connor Bedard, their best player and playmaker who will be sidelined until January 1 at the earliest. 

Without Bedard, it’s hard to see how the Blackhawks can get the win on the road, especially as they’re currently riding a three-game losing streak. Montreal will rely on their offense and the home-ice advantage to get the win here.

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Player Prop

Lane Hutson might be a defenceman, but he’s been the Canadiens’ most reliable offensive weapon of late and currently leads the team in points over the last five games with six – all of them assists. 

He’s not much of a scoring weapon and only has five goals this term, but his 28 points rank third on the team, only behind Nick Suzuki (37) and Cole Caufield (33).

The Canadiens need all the help they can get on offence, given how inconsistent they’ve been of late, and Hutson has stepped up time and time again. Don’t be surprised if he cracks the scoresheet again in this one, as he’s posted three games with exactly two assists in his last four appearances.

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Same Game Parlay

Our three-leg parlay suggests that the star players on both teams are going to step up at some point. 

After all, Hutson has been the Canadiens’ best and most reliable offensive weapon of late, and the same can be said about Bertuzzi on the Blackhawks. 

With Bedard sidelined until next year, Bertuzzi will have to step up his game and lead the charge offensively.

Bertuzzi has two goals over his last five outings and ranks second in the team in goals (16) and points (26), trailing Bedard in both categories. As for Hutson, he has posted two-assist performances in three of his last four games and should be a threat from the blueline against a weak Chicago defence.

Given the Blackhawks’ defensive trend in the wrong direction and the Canadiens’ 31st-ranked goals allowed per game this season (3.48), a high-scoring matchup is definitely on the cards. The Blackhawks are averaging 3.00 goals conceded per game this season.

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Team News

Montreal Canadiens Team News

Mike Matheson is working his way back from an upper-body injury and could be available Thursday, but he’s expected to be a game-time decision. The same can’t be said about goaltender Sam Montembeault, who’s slated to return on December 21.

Kirby Dach (foot), Kaiden Guhle (lower body), Patrik Laine (abdomen) and Alex Newhook (ankle) are also out. The absences of Laine and Newhook are significant. Both would be top-six forwards in the lineup if they were available, but neither is expected back before the All-Star break.

Chicago Blackhawks Team News

The Blackhawks will be without their best player since star center Connor Bedard is on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury and won’t be eligible to return until January 1 at the earliest. 

Not having Bedard is a massive blow for Chicago, as he ranks fifth in the league with 44 points entering Thursday’s slate.

Nick Foligno (hand) and Artyom Levshunov (coach’s decision) could return Thursday. Shea Weber, who would be a regular on the blueline if he were available, is out for the rest of the 2025-26 season with an ankle injury.

Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks: Where to Watch (Canada) 

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